Boks underdogs in Brisbane

CAPE TOWN – As acid tests go, this has got to be one of the toughest in world rugby, but Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer knows Saturday’s Rugby Championship battle with Australia in Brisbane will be the perfect test for just how far his team has come.According to the supersport.com website, Meyer has been very vocal in the past few months about what his team have achieved, feeling at times that fans back home simply expect the Boks to win away from home without taking into account how difficult it is for any side.

And now, faced with a monumental task of overturning history by trying to secure the Boks first win at Suncorp Stadium, the Bok coach was buoyant about what his side needs to do. Meyer looked both confident and gave an honest assessment about his team’s chances, especially against a side they have only beaten once in their last seven outings. And never in seven games at Suncorp stadium.

“We don’t want to focus on that. It was the first time we won in Soweto as well and in Mendoza. I don’t want to sound arrogant; it’s just a new game. It is always very tough against the Wallabies. I think in the last seven games, we’ve only won one – and that was the last one,” Meyer admitted.

“You can’t look at negatives, because then you shift your focus and I believe in positive mental energies. It just makes it more of a challenge, and it needs more motivation and it gets you more excited. You have to be mentally tough. I rather see it as a great challenge; it’s just another field and another game.”

Meyer is certain his side have taken steps forward in the last 12 months, growing together and overcoming adversity to end unbeaten in the November tour. Add to that a frustrating, but in the end decent win in Mendoza and they now face a tough Australian side.

Considering they are up against the odds, and will start as firm underdogs on Saturday, you wouldn’t really say it from the attitude. And that is the big key this week.

Belief is everything if this Bok team want to win here. To do that, they need to show belief – both in the systems, the game plan, the defensive pattern and above all, that they can overcome the bogey of Suncorp.

Meyer believes that his team has grown a lot, but that they will need a special mental toughness this weekend if they are to come out on the winning side.-Sport24.